Affording Your Education at 2008-09 Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Greetings, We are pleased that you are considering Hobart and William Smith in your college search. It is our belief that the HWS financial aid program is a crucial investment in our students and their futures. This is evident in the numbers: In 2008, more than 78% of the first-year class received some type of financial assistance. HWS is committed to providing our families of all income levels the information and assistance needed to complete the annual aid process. It is our goal to make an HWS education not simply a dream, but a reality. We look forward to working with you and your family today and in the following years that lead you to a Hobart and William Smith degree. Beth Turner Director of Financial Aid Services and Student Employment Steps for Applying for Financial Aid at HWS At Hobart and William Smith, we require completion of the following steps to apply for financial aid as a first-year student: 1. Complete the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE by going to https:// profileonline.collegeboard.com. The PROFILE is accessible online after October 1, 2008. Please note: The Hobart and William Smith school code for completing the PROFILE is 2294. The deadline for filing the PROFILE for Hobart and William Smith varies depending on the type of application for Hobart and William Smith school code for CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE is 2294 admission you are submitting (see the timeline). 2. Complete the FAFSA as soon after January 1, 2009, as possible. The filing deadline for Hobart and William Smith is February 15. We recommend you complete the FAFSA online. To do this, go to www.pin.ed.gov and register for a PIN (a PIN is required for the student and a parent). After you have your PIN, go to www.fafsa.ed.gov to file your FAFSA. Please note: The FAFSA school code for Hobart and William Smith is 002731. If you feel your family s financial situation is not fully represented in the answers to the questions asked on the FAFSA, contact FAFSA school code for Hobart and William Smith is 002731 the HWS Office of Financial Aid Services. 3. If you are a New York State resident and submitting the FAFSA online, you will be prompted to complete the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application upon completion of the FAFSA. Completing the TAP application at this point will speed the processing of your financial aid application. 4. Students and their parents must send signed copies of their 2008 Federal income tax returns, including W2s and schedules A, C and E, to the Office of Financial Aid Services at Hobart and William Smith no later than June 1, 2009, in order for verification to take place prior to the release of financial aid funds. The requirements, timing, and financial aid process differs for transfer and international students. Please visit our Web site at www.hws.edu/admissions/fin_edu.aspx for specific details or call the Office of Financial Aid Services at (315) 781-3315. www.hws.edu/admissions/fin_edu.aspx
Estimating Financial Need & Financial Aid Definition of Need: In order for institutions to identify financial resources (federal, state and their own) available to assist families in affording college, the definition of financial need has been established as: Definition of Need Cost of Attendance (COA) Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = Financial Need 1. To identify your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), go to www.finaid.org/calculators. If your EFC is less than the cost of attendance (COA) at Hobart and William Smith, you will qualify for need-based financial aid. At Hobart and William Smith, we encourage all families to apply for need-based financial aid, as we have awarded aid even when the EFC is more than our cost of attendance. 2. Prior to January 1, 2009, you can get more detailed information about qualifying for aid at Hobart and William Smith by completing our Financial Aid Estimator (www.hws.edu/admissions/finedu_ estimators.aspx). We will calculate your family s EFC and then discuss individually how your financial needs could be addressed through federal, state and HWS funds. Please note: HWS offers numerous merit-based scholarships that are awarded regardless of a family s qualification for need-based financial aid. Frequently a student s financial aid package will be comprised of both merit and need-based awards. In addition, we encourage students to seek outside scholarships. You are required to report any outside scholarship awards to the Office of Financial Aid Services at HWS. However, we will not reduce your award of financial assistance unless the amount of your financial aid award from HWS when coupled with your outside scholarship(s) exceeds your total cost of attendance. Situations like this are rare and are dealt with on a case by case basis. If reductions are necessary, they will be made first to the self-help portion of your financial aid award (loans and/or work study) and then to the grant and/or scholarship portion of your award. An HWS Liberal Arts Degree Why it s Worth it Hobart and William Smith serve as the jumping-off point for the next generation of leaders. We provide rigorous academic study and research opportunities with faculty, development of skills through internships and career planning, exposure to and knowledge of the world s peoples and cultures, engagement with service, and we encourage students to continually question their assumptions as they move through their undergraduate college experience. At Hobart and William Smith, we offer a wealth of experiences that count, including: First-year interdisciplinary seminars with 15 or fewer students where the professor acts as the student s adviser until a major is declared. Our students complete a major and a minor (or two majors), one in a discipline and the other in an interdisciplinary field of study, thereby gaining both depth and breadth from their academic choices. 30+ international study locations. Nearly 50 percent of our students will spend at least a semester off campus no matter what a student s major or interests, we have programs that will meet their needs. A community-wide commitment to service locally, nationally and internationally most recently evidenced by numerous HWS student trips to assist in Hurricane Katrina relief as well as community fundraising efforts that netted $39,000 for Gulf victims. A model four-year program called Pathways that is designed to guide our students for life after college, either preparation for the world or work or for advanced study in graduate school. A key component of Pathways is the internship experiences our students have at Yahoo! Inc., Fidelity Investments, HBO Sports, Chelsea Gallery and Hitachi Corporation, to name a few. We acknowledge that these kinds of educational experiences come at a significant cost, yet the investment made, coupled with our determination to help make this kind of education affordable, yields results that will last a lifetime. www.hws.edu/admissions
How to pay for Hobart and William Smith Colleges liberal arts education at Hobart and William Smith is an investment in your future. Beyond the institution s award of A need-based aid as well as possible merit-based scholarships, we offer financing options to help all families make a quality four-year college education possible. Families may utilize any number of financing options including home equity loans, life insurance loans, education IRAs, 401K loans, personal savings accounts, CDs and stock and mutual fund portfolios. In addition to the specialized payment plans, you ll see options for student and parent loans as well as work-study employment opportunities. Financing Options n Installment Plan: All families have the option to enroll in the TuitionPay Plan from Sallie Mae. This is an interest-free alternative to lump sum payments and allows you to spread a year of college costs over the course of 10 or 11 months. A small enrollment fee is assessed to establish the plan. In addition, at no extra charge, this plan provides for tuition protection coverage so that if the bill payer dies, the balance left at that time is covered. n Tuition Prepayment Plan: The Colleges offer a Tuition Stabilization Plan for families who wish to prepay the entire college tuition expense for four years based on the first-year tuition rate. The Office of Student Accounts will provide details on this program upon request by calling (315) 781-3343. Grants Grants are funds that are directed toward a student s education that do not have to be repaid. The grants listed below come from federal, state and HWS funds, as identified, and are available when the appropriate guidelines are met. Grants are awarded only to those who apply for financial aid. n HWS Grant: Hobart and William Smith Grants are awarded to students who have demonstrated additional financial need beyond assistance provided through federal, state and private assistance. In addition, those who may not qualify for other forms of aid but are deemed to warrant the institution providing some financial assistance are eligible for HWS Grants. n Federal Pell Grant: Pell grants are awarded to students who are U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens enrolled in an undergraduate degree or certificate program on a full- or parttime basis. Families are eligible for a Pell Grant if the EFC is $4,042 or less. The maximum grant award per year is $4,731. n Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG): Eligibility is the same as that of the Pell Grant. The maximum grant per year is $4,000. n Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG): New in 2006, the ACG financial eligibility is the same as the Pell Grant with these additional qualifications. The ACG provides up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year of undergraduate study to full-time students who are U.S. citizens and have successfully completed a rigorous high school program as determined by the state or local education agency and recognized by the Secretary of Education. The ACG is renewable in the second year if the student has maintained a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0 in the first year. n National SMART Grant: Financial eligibility is the same as the Pell Grant with these additional qualifications. The National SMART Grant provides up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth years of undergraduate study to fulltime students who are majoring in physical or life sciences, computer science, mathematics, technology, engineering or in a foreign language determined critical to national security. The student must be a U.S. citizen, elegible for a Federal Pell Grant, and must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in coursework required for the major. n NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP): U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens who are New York State residents and who are enrolled full time at a New York college or university can receive awards that range from $500 - $5,000 based on New York State net taxable income. Students must demonstrate good academic standing to remain eligible for TAP. n Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP): The Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) is a comprehensive academic program created by New York State to provide access to private colleges and universities for students who are educationally and economically disadvantaged. Awards range up to $2,483 per year. Students
Loan Programs Many students and/or parents borrow money through numerous loan programs to cover part of the costs of education not met by scholarships and grants. n Federal Perkins Loans are offered to students with low EFCs. These loans are interest free until the repayment period which begins nine months after the student leaves school. Current interest rate: 5% Loan amount: Up to $4,000/year 10-year standard repayment period must be New York State residents, must demonstrate the potential and motivation to be successful at HWS, and must meet state financial eligibility requirements. For more details on this program, go to www.hws.edu/admissions/finedu_ opprograms.aspx n Rectory Grant: Students who are the sons or daughters of a member of the clergy are eligible to receive these grant dollars from HWS. The amount of the award, which is determined by HWS, varies because it is based on demonstrated need. Student Work-Study At HWS, many students work on campus to help with the costs of their education, through a program that is federally subsidized, the HWS work-study program or through the Sodexho food service program. Campus work not only provides money for students expenses, but it provides valuable work experience that can be used to develop a resume. n Federal Work Study: (FWS) Students are paid at an hourly rate (currently begins at $7.15) and receive paychecks every two weeks. Work study allocations range from $300 - $2,000 per year. HWS offers special programs where students work and serve the community including American Reads and America Counts. n HWS Work Study: Students who want to work on campus but do not qualify for federal work study can be hired through this program. Numerous offices across campus hire students at an hourly rate (currently begins at $7.15). Jobs are open to non-federal work study students at the beginning of the third week of classes. n Federal Stafford Student Loans come in two types: subsidized and unsubsidized. The subsidized Stafford Loan is interest-free until the repayment period which begins six months after the student leaves school. The unsubsidized Stafford Loan accrues interest while the student is in school and during the six-month grace period. The repayment period begins six months after the student leaves school. Interest payments may be made quarterly while the student is in school or may be deferred until the repayment period. Origination Fee: 2-3% Default/Guarantee Fee: 0-1% Current Interest Rate: Loan amount: 10-year standard repayment period 6.0-6.8% Fixed up to $3,500 1 st year n Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (FPLUS) are non-need based federal loans. Parents creditworthiness is determined by the lender. Repayment of FPLUS Loans begins within 60 days after the loan is fully disbursed. Origination Fee: 3% Guarantee Fee: 0-1% Current interest rate: 8.5% fixed Up to the cost of Loan amount: attendance less other financial aid received 10-year standard repayment period n Other Supplemental Loans (non-federal) can be borrowed in the student s name with a credit-worthy cosigner. For more information regarding lenders, eligibility requirements, interest rates and repayment schedules, contact the HWS Office of Financial Aid Services. n Sodexho Food Service: Students work-study funds are applied directly to Colleges bill for board, and students can earn from 25 percent up to 100 percent of the board charge during the course of the year.
HWS Merit-based Scholarships for First-year Students HWS Scholarships are awarded based on merit recognizing academic, artistic and leadership excellence. Scholarships do not need to be repaid by the student and are renewed each year unless the student fails to meet renewal requirements where they are indicated. Please note: HWS does not require the submission of standardized test scores unless you are applying for either the Trustee or Blackwell Scholars programs or you attend a school (or are home schooled) that does not provide a traditional transcript. Scholarship Requirements Award # Awarded Separate Application & Deadline Trustee Scholarship To apply, student must have at least one of the following: 1250 SAT (reading and math) or ACT Composite of 28, rank in top 10% of class, cumulative GPA of 90 or 3.7, and must have an interview with a member of the Admissions staff or an alumni/ae representative off-campus. Winners are selected by the Admissions Committee and are invited to an on-campus recognition day in February. $20,000 50+ Yes, see Web site. Deadline 1/1/09 Wood Scholarship Most outstanding student selected from the Trustee Scholars winners who participated in an on campus recognition day in March. Winner is selected by the Admissions Committee. Full Tuition 1 Must be a Trustee Scholar winner Hersh Scholarship Top students (one Hobart, one William Smith) selected from Trustee Scholars winners who participate in an on-campus recognition day in March. Hersh Scholars also demonstrate substantial extracurricular involvement and service within their communities. Winners are selected by the Admissions Committee. Renewal requirements: 3.2 GPA and completion of Honors work in the senior year. Full Tuition & Fees 2 Must be a Trustee Scholar winner Blackwell Medical Scholarship To apply, student must be a U.S. citizen, desire to become a doctor and must meet at least one of the following: be from an underrepresented minority, be from a rural area or be a first-generation student to attend college. Student must have SAT scores (reading and math) of 1250 or ACT Composite of 28, and have a high school GPA of 90 or 3.7 or higher. Finalists are selected to attend an on-campus day to interview with the selection Committee. Award includes seat at Upstate Medical University College of Medicine and a waiver of requirement to take the MCAT exams. Renewal requirements include: maintenance of a 3.0 GPA at HWS, GPA of 3.5 or higher in the sciences, completion of internship and enrichment activities. Full Tuition Varies Yes, see Web site. Deadline 1/1/09 Faculty Scholarship The Admissions Committee will consider all applicants who have a combination of 90 GPA or 3.7 in core academic subjects and a rank in class of top 15%. $3,000 - $15,000 Varies No Arts Scholarship Awarded to students with outstanding talents in one of the following areas: dance, music, studio art or writing. Finalists are selected and must attend an audition/portfolio review day on campus in February. The arts faculty will select winners. Students do not have to major in the area of the award but are required to participate in that area once on campus. Renewal at the recommendation of the arts faculty. $3,000 - $15,000 Varies Yes, see Web site. Deadline 1/1/09 President s Leadership Award Awarded to students with strong academic records, demonstrated and sustained leadership and high motivation. These scholarships range from $3,000 to $12,000 each year. Recipients are selected by the Admissions Committee. $3,000 - $12,000 Varies No President s Service Award Awarded to students with strong academic records and significant involvement in service/civic engagement activities in their schools and/or communities. These scholarships range from $3,000 to $12,000 each year. Recipients are selected by the Admissions Committee. $3,000 - $12,000 Varies No
Sample Packages Each student and his or her family s financial circumstances will vary. The samples provided below are real examples of HWS financial aid packages that were awarded for the school year 2008-2009. Sample #1 Family income: $38,112 3 in family, 1 in college, New York state resident HWS Grant $ 25,000 Federal Pell Grant 1,200 Federal ACG Grant 750 NYS TAP Award 3,528 Federal Stafford Loan (subsidized) 3,500 Federal Perkins Loan 3,000 Federal Work Study 2,000 Total Financial Aid Package $38,978 Sample #2 Family income: $56,766 5 in family, 1 in college, New York state resident HWS Grant $ 23,000 NYS TAP Award 3,273 Federal Stafford Loan (subsidized) 3,500 Federal Work Study 2,000 Total Financial Aid Package $31,773 Sample #3 Family income: $77,255 5 in family, 1 in college, out-of-state resident HWS Faculty Scholarship $15,000 HWS Grant 12,000 Federal Stafford Loan (subsidized) 3,500 Federal Perkins Loan 2,500 Federal Work Study 2,000 Total Financial Aid Package $35,000 Sample #4 Family income: $91,336 4 family members, 1 in college, out-of-state resident HWS Grant $ 21,000 Federal Stafford Loan (subsidized) 3,500 Federal Work Study 2,000 Total Financial Aid Package $26,500 Sample #5 Family income: $145,747 4 in family, 2 in college, out-of-state resident HWS Grant $ 23,000 Federal Stafford Loan (unsubsidized) 5,500 HWS Work Study 2,000 Total Financial Aid Package $30,500 Sample #6 Family income: $201,027 4 in family, 1 in college, New York state resident HWS Grant $ 10,000 Federal Stafford Loan (unsubsidized) 3,500 HWS Work Study 2,000 Total Financial Aid Package $15,500 Sample #7 Family income: $242,956 5 in family, 3 in college, New York state resident HWS Faculty Scholarship $ 15,000 HWS Grant 8,000 Federal Stafford Loan (unsubsidized) 3,500 HWS Work Study 2,000 Total Financial Aid Package $28,500 Sample #8 Family income: $361,395 5 in family, 1 in college, out-of-state resident HWS Grant $ 10,000 HWS Work Study 2,000 Total Financial Aid Package $12,000 Costs Our 2008-09 direct charges are as follows: Tuition $37,820 Room & Board 9,686 Fees 1,040 Total Direct Costs $48,546* * In addition, indirect costs for books, supplies, travel and other personal expenses in the financial aid budget average $2,000 for the year. These estimated expenses vary by student. The Cost of Attendance (COA) at an institution is the combined direct and indirect costs.
Admissions and Financial Aid On the Web: October 1 CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE online registration begins November 15 Early Decision I admissions applications due December 1 CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE due for Early Decision I financial aid applicants December 15 Admissions decisions mailed to Early Decision I applicants Financial aid award mailed to Early Decision I admitted students January 1 Early Decision II admissions applications due* CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE due for Early Decision II financial aid applicants Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online filing begins HWS Arts Scholars applications due HWS Trustee Scholars applications due HWS Elizabeth Blackwell Medical Scholars applications due Hobart and William Smith Colleges Geneva, NY 14456 For more INFORMATION, contact Office of Financial Aid Services and Student Employment: (315) 781-3315 Office of Admissions: (315) 781-3622 or (800) 852-2256 February 1 Regular Decision applications due Admissions decisions mailed to Early Decision II applicants Financial aid award mailed to Early Decision II admitted students February 15 FAFSA filing deadline for Regular Decision financial aid applicants CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE filing deadline for Regular Decision financial aid applicants April 1 Admissions decisions mailed to Regular Decision applicants Financial aid awards mailed to Regular Decision admitted students May 1 Regular Decision admitted students enrollment deadline *Students who have applied under the Regular Decision plan (and whose applications are complete) can change their application status to Early Decision II up until February 15. Admission decisions will be made within four weeks. Hobart and William Smith Colleges do not exclude anyone from participation in, deny anyone the benefits of, or subject anyone to discrimination or harassment in any program, activity, or employment based on race, color, religion, gender, marital status, national origin, age disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation. Information contained in this brochure is accurate as of October 2008. www.hws.edu HWS at-a-glance Founded: Hobart, 1822; William Smith, 1908 Number of students: 2,050 States represented: 40 Countries represented: 19 Number of faculty members: 186 Percentage with Ph.D.: 94 Average class size: 17 Student/faculty ratio: 11:1 HWS Excellence n Over the past five years, Hobart and William Smith students have been recognized for exceptional academic achievement, receiving some the of the nation s most prestigious scholarships including a Rhodes, a Gates Cambridge and several Fulbright and Goldwater awards. n In 2007, President Mark Gearan signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, making HWS a charter member of a movement to eliminate global warming emissions. The Colleges joins a list of more than 400 colleges and universities leading the way to reduce the threats of climate change. The effort aims to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions on campuses across the country. n Grants totaling more than $4 million have been received by HWS faculty and institutional programs since spring 2007 from such diverse sources as the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Freeman Foundation, the Teagle Foundation, Sandia National Laboratories, the U.S. Department of State, the Open Society Institute and the Corporation for National and Community Service. n The BRIDGE Project, an outreach program of the HWS Department of Asian Languages and Cultures and the HWS Education Department, was named The 2007 Program of Excellence by the New York State Council for the Social Studies. This project (Bringing Relevant Dialogue to Global Education) connects elementary school students in the Geneva area with HWS students and faculty studying abroad. n The Centennial Center for Leadership opens in fall 2008. The newly renovated building overlooking Seneca Lake will provide a physical space for a programming, meetings, seminars and presentations as well as office space. The Center will bring under one umbrella all of the existing leadership programs currently operating at HWS and will provide a sophisticated, intentional and coherent program to prepare students for the leadership responsibilities they undertake on campus, in the community and in their future lives and careers.